Chair of Trustees and Trustees (with legal experience)

Organisation Overview 

Since being established in 2007, Freedom Festival Arts Trust has taken social issues impacting communities across Hull, the UK and internationally and used creative and cultural interventions to challenge perspectives and open important social discussions. We celebrate Hull’s independent spirit and extraordinary heritage working closely with artists, creative organisations, the private sector, academic partners, third sector organisations, families,
individuals, and community groups to deliver year-round creative activity and a world-class annual arts festival.
Freedom Festival, our annual arts festival was established as part of the bicentennial commemorations of the first anti-slavery act in Parliament, and as a way of celebrating one of the city’s most important politicians and his work
within the abolitionist movement, William Wilberforce. 

Each year 60,000 people come together in Hull to experience and participate in a bold and radical programme of arts in public spaces. Freedom Festival has a local, national and international reputation of excellence with a central mission to expose social injustice through performance art. Coming up to our 20th anniversary, the Trustees and Festival Director are looking to appoint new Trustees to move our team towards a new chapter of success. An enthusiastic, engaged and skilled Trustee team will help us to drive forward a year-round engagement programme, as well as out annual artist extravaganza: Freedom Festival.

Role details 

Chair

Freedom Festival Arts Trust is looking for an exceptional individual to take over as Chair of the Trust to lead the future of a new chapter and ambitious strategic delivery. We are looking for a confident 

and creative leader who will act as a passionate advocate and ambassador for Freedom Festival Arts Trust and the city; someone who can articulate our vision, and garner support from a wide range of audiences ranging from national and regional political stakeholders, funders, business and our diverse communities in the city.

Our new Chair will support the Festival Director, Phil Hargreaves, and the Freedom Festival team, to deliver our business plan by leading the charity’s governance processes, and by supporting the wider team to build lasting partnerships in the public, private and third sectors.

The new Chair will be supported by an active Board of Trustees.

We hold quarterly board meetings, and other subgroup meetings throughout the year. We anticipate an average commitment of around one day a month in a non-executive role. The Chair should be available to chair quarterly board meetings in person or online and other subgroup meetings as appropriate.

The Chair is appointed for a fixed term of 4 years. At the end of that term the Chair may be re-appointed for another fixed term of 4 years or retire. (Maximum of 8 years’ service).

This role is not renumerated, although travel and other reasonable expenses incurred are reimbursed in line with FFAT’s expenses policy.

Attendance - Hybrid, with one meeting per year in person

Time requirement - approximately 1 day per month, quarterly board meetings 

Trustees

We are seeking up to five dynamic, committed and influential individuals with a passion for our mission to act as Trustees, supporting us to champion our work and realise our ambitions.

The board currently consists of five trustees and we are looking for up to five new trustees. Following a Trustee Skills Audit we are particularly interested in Trustees with knowledge of:

·     ·       Equity/equality & diversity

·       Finance/accountancy and risk management

·       Legal experience

·       Marketing/brand/PR/comms

·       Work in the community

·       Lived experience

As we further deepen our engagement work with communities through our year round programme supported by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, we are keen to recruit Trustees with connections to Hull and its communities.

If you have a passion for the role that arts can play in society, excellent interpersonal skills, good judgement and a strong commitment to diversity, inclusivity and sustainability, this is the role for you!

Download the information pack here. 

Attendance - Hybrid, with one meeting per year in person

Time requirement - approximately 4 hours per month, with quarterly meetings

To express an interest in this position, please email bicenquiries@weareadvocate.org.uk specifying which opportunity you are interested in.